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Tuesday, 30 July 2013

Neath RFC stalwart Dai Langdon has said that pre-season training this year has been the toughest he’s ever experienced.

The Blacks have been back in training since June and last Saturday saw a full day up in Dare Valley Country Park where the side were put through the wringer by a Royal Marines PTI instructor with two hours on intense fitness training as well as problem solving and other team building exercises.

Popular 24-year old fly-half Langdon is about to start his fourth season with Neath and will look to add to his 200 plus goal tally when the Blacks kick-off in August.

“It’s been the toughest pre-season I’ve ever had but it’s been brilliant,” Langdon said. “It’s the first time we’ve really pushed ourselves and given ourselves a goal to work to for the start of the season.

“We’re starting to get there in terms of fitness. We’ve got a way to go but it’s coming together and we’re really starting to look like a team now.

“Days like Saturday really helps the new players to fit in with us older hands. But ever since the new players came to the club, they’ve been a big part of the team.”

Langdon said he wasn’t prepared for the gruelling tasks that the club put him and his team mates through last Saturday.

“It wasn’t at all like I expected,” he said. “I wasn’t expecting to be building a raft or running up a mountain and carrying players and heavy bags. I thought it would be more of the team building element. It was a rude awakening, but I know that it was very worthwhile for the whole side and I’m sure we’ll see the fruits of it at the start of the season.

“We’re looking to play a high tempo game this season and fitness is a massive part of that and hopefully we can pick up some good results right from the start. Our strength and conditioning coach Rob Sowden-Taylor has done a brilliant job and has pushed the boys hard. I can’t wait for the season to start now.”

Neath RFC coach Neil Edwards was pleased with how the whole day went last Saturday.

“It produced what we hoped it would produce,” he said. “The boys started talking a lot more, encouraged each other and were a lot disciplined in what they were doing.

“There was a lot more to the day than fitness. Mentality was a big part of things for any rugby player and we tested them thoroughly with problem solving which helped them work for each other as a team.

“Saturday definitely helped us to grow as a family. They are now becoming one unit and understanding each other’s standards. It was a very successful day and I was pleased that we did it.”